Automatic uncoupling device for draw-heads.



No. 660,912. Patented on. 30, I900.

' J. T. LEE.

AUTDMATIC UNCOUPLING DEVICE FOR DRAW HEADS.

(Applicq-tibmfiled July 17, 1900.

(Ila Modal.)

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Fa l |II|||' WITNESSES I IN VE N T0175 bfii? Klee.

A TTIOHNE Ys no: uonms PETERS 0a.. PHOTO-LUNG. WASHINGTON n c.

Nrran STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN T. LEE, or BUTLER, NEW JERSEY.

AUTOMATIC UNCOUPLING DEVICE FOR DRAW-HEADS.

' SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 660,912, datedOctober 30, 1900.

Application filed July 17, 1900.

To (all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN T. LEE, a citizen of the United States, and aresident'of Butler, in the county of Morris and State of New Jersey,have invented a new and Improved Automatic Uncoupling Device forDraw-Heads, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription.

The purpose of the invention is to provide an automatically-operateduncoupling attachment for the draw-heads of draw-bars, so constructedand arranged that before the drawbar is subjected to breaking orwrecking strain the attachment will so act that the threateneddraw-barwill beimmediately uncoupled from its mating bar, the attachmentserving also to prevent the draw-bars dropping to the track if it isdislodged.

The invention consists in the novel construction and combination of theseveral parts, as will be hereinafter fully set forth, and pointed outin the claim.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part ofthis specification, in which similar characters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in both figures.

Figure l is a perspective View of a coupling and a portion of the bottomframe of a car, illustrating the application of the improvement to thecoupling; and Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section through aportion of one end of'a car, showing the attachment in side elevationand showing the draw-head to which the attachment is applied partly inside elevation and partly in section.

A represents the bottom structure of a carbody, the end sill 1O whereofis provided with an elbow-lever 11, pivotally mounted thereon in anyapproved manner.

B represents a drawhead which may be of the link or knuckle type, and Othe draw-bar connected with the draw-head, which drawbar is supported inthe usual stirrups or guides 12and is held in position in the ordinarymanner. The draw-bar is further provided with the customary spring 14,whereby the said draw-bar has a cushioned and limited longitudinalmovement. A chain 15 is secured to the upright member of the elbow-lever11, and this chain is usually carried over guide-pulleys 16 and 16,pivoted upon one of the intermediate sills of Serial No. 23,896. \llomodel-J the base structure of the car, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, andthe other end of the chain 15 is attached to the body of the draw-barusually at a point slightly back of the guide 12; but I do not limitmyself to any point of connection between the chain 15 and the draw-bar,and any equivalent of the chain 15 may be used. The chain 15 is of suchlength that the dra w-bar C may move longitudinally in the usualinannerthe cnstomarydistance; but as soon as the draw-bar has been drawnoutward more than the usual distance or to such an extent that it isliable to be drawn from its hearings or supports the slack in the chain15 will have been taken up and the forward or horizonal member of theelbow-lever 11 will have been carried upward, and as this member of theelbow-lever 11 is connected by a chain 17 with the coupling-pin 18 thecoupling-pin will be drawn out from the drawhead, and the draw-bar indanger of being wrecked will be instan tly uncoupled from its matingbar, thus preventing the draw-bar from beingviolently pulled from itssupport and dropped to the track, in which position a draw-bar isexceedingly dangerous, as many train wrecks have occurred by reason of adislodged draW-bar falling upon or across a rail of a track. It isevident that in the eventa draw-bar under any circumstances should beviolently torn. from its bearings when the attachment is applied theretothe chain would prevent the dislodged crossbar from falling to theground.

I desire it to be understood that an attachment may be efiected between'the lever 11 and any locking mechanism employed in connection with aknuckled draw-bar and the application be as readily and elfectively madeas with a coupling-pin.

In Fig. 2 I have illustrated a chain l9connected with the coupling-pin,which chain is connected with a crank 20 on-a shaft 21, operated by alever or levers 22 at the sides of the car for the purpose of uncouplingunder ordinary circumstances, and it is evident that the usualuncoupling means Will not interfere with the operation of theattachment.

In Fig. l I have illustrated another form of lever 23, adapted to beoperated from a side of the car to effect an uncoupling, said lever 23being made to pass through a link 24 of suitable length, forming a.portion of the lifting chttin 17, which is attached to the(fUllPllllg-Plll or locking" device for the drztwhead.

This attachment is exceedingly simple. It. is durable and economic andmay be readily applied to any existing draw-head and drawbar, and, asstated, will tend to prevent the drzuv'bar from becoming dislodgedend ifdislodged will prevent. the dislodged bar from falling to the ground.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters PittQ-Ill3 An uncoupling device for railway curs, comprisingthe combination with tthecztr and t draw-head and draw-bar, of abell-crank 1ei ver mounted on the car, and hnviny, one end in connectionwith the coupling-pin or other mobile part; of the coupler txo uncouplethe same, a flexible connect-ion between Lheother end of the bell-cranklever and the drew-bar, and guide devices for the flexible connectionsuch devices being mounted on the car and holding the flexibleconnection so that, undue strain on the drzuv-bnr will cause the couplerto be released.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN '1. LEE. \Vit nesses:

J. FRED. ACKER, Jno. M. BITTER.

